Bally Slot Machine

Click
on images for bigger pics:

A
friend of mine asked me to check out a slot machine for him. I told
him that I would, but that I've never seen the inside of one before
and didn't know what to look for.
He was fine with that, as long as it looked like it was in good shape
and all there.

The
seller advertised it as a complete 25cent slot machine that lights up,
but doesn't stop the wheels. He added the common phrase 'It probably
just needs a fuse'. I tried to find some information on slot machines
of that age, but there is little out there. I didn't find any pictures
to go on, so the machine looked good to me and I paid for it.

Once
I got it back to my place, my friend came over and we started looking
it over. He's very happy with the appearance of the machine, and we
both decided to do some research online to try and find out why it may
not be working. It turned out that the game was missing the MPU board,
which is basically its 'brain'.

Of
course repeated emails to the seller got both of us nowhere, so now
we're trying to find out how to get this thing up and running

UPDATE:
After replacing the missing MPU board and fixing a messed up hopper
switch, the game is working!!

I'd
like to mention the NewLifeGames.net
website. The folks there made it possible for met to fix this game.
If you're looking for information about slots, poker, amusement or coin
op games click the banner below and check them out!

3/4
view of the machine.

Inside
the door.

The
coin hopper is marked as 10 cent, and there are some wear marks
the size of a dime. At some point this machine was last set for
dimes, not quarters.

I
finally found one website with pictures of the inside of a similar
machine, and discovered that the entire MPU or 'brain' of the
machine was missing! It should be mounted on the inside of the
panel on the left in this picture. You can see a couple wire harnesses
just dangling that should connect up to it.

I
can find several places online that sell parts for antique slots,
and also 1990 and newer machines. I'm having a real hard problem
finding anyplace that sells parts for the late 70's and early
80's machines.

This
is the driver board, showing the part number. It also has a sticker
labeled 10 cents. I don't know why the I/O board would need to
know what type of coin it accepts.

This
is the serial number plate. It looks like the tag was switched
with an older one to make the game legal when it was sold for
home use in my state. The tag is from a 1965 machine, but the
actual game is from 1982.

My
state is one of the many that require home use machines to be
at least 25 years old. The 1982 date of the actual game is now
legal anyway.

The
sound board and top light connections are in the top of the game.
This is a picture after removing the top glass.

The
light panel folds down, and you can see the bell inside. The bell
chimes once for each coin you put in, and rings while paying out
for any winning combination.

Success!!
The replacement MPU board arrived today. After diagnosing and
fixing the hopper switch that someone had messed up, the game
works!

I
can't believe it was such an easy fix - if you can call replacing
the 'brain' of the game easy. Everything works, and I discovered
that the game is in fact set up for quarters.

Now
that it's fixed, it'll be going to its new home. It's really fun
to play, and I definately want one for myself now!